Affordable Housing Strategy

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The 10-Year City of St. John’s Affordable Housing Strategy was approved by Council on Nov. 19, 2018. This strategy is a ten-year plan that continues and expands from the 2014-2017 Affordable Housing Business Plan’s mandate that ‘Housing is a human right.'


As projects are identified, they will be featured on this page.


Affordable housing is a foundation for a safe, prosperous and healthy community.

The City’s first Affordable Housing Business Plan (AHBP), Creating Opportunities, Housing Our Community, was approved by Council in 2014 and ran until September 2017. The Plan was based on the City’s core belief that housing is a human right and that everyone needs and deserves a home that is affordable to them.

To continue this commitment to affordable housing - a new 10-year Affordable Housing Strategy was developed for the City of St. John’s.

To be affordable, housing must cost less than 30% of pre-tax household income including housing and related costs. For renters, shelter costs include rent and utilities. For owners, shelter costs include mortgage payments, property taxes, condominium fees and utilities.

The City has a long history of leadership in this field, including the creation and management of affordable housing for over 400 households since 1982. In the past decade, the cost of rental and home ownership has risen very sharply and there is much work to be done. Our City can't make advancements in housing alone. We must develop partnerships - governments, social organizations, builders – we all have a role to play.


The 10-Year City of St. John’s Affordable Housing Strategy was approved by Council on Nov. 19, 2018. This strategy is a ten-year plan that continues and expands from the 2014-2017 Affordable Housing Business Plan’s mandate that ‘Housing is a human right.'


As projects are identified, they will be featured on this page.


Affordable housing is a foundation for a safe, prosperous and healthy community.

The City’s first Affordable Housing Business Plan (AHBP), Creating Opportunities, Housing Our Community, was approved by Council in 2014 and ran until September 2017. The Plan was based on the City’s core belief that housing is a human right and that everyone needs and deserves a home that is affordable to them.

To continue this commitment to affordable housing - a new 10-year Affordable Housing Strategy was developed for the City of St. John’s.

To be affordable, housing must cost less than 30% of pre-tax household income including housing and related costs. For renters, shelter costs include rent and utilities. For owners, shelter costs include mortgage payments, property taxes, condominium fees and utilities.

The City has a long history of leadership in this field, including the creation and management of affordable housing for over 400 households since 1982. In the past decade, the cost of rental and home ownership has risen very sharply and there is much work to be done. Our City can't make advancements in housing alone. We must develop partnerships - governments, social organizations, builders – we all have a role to play.


Category what we heard   Show all

  • What we Heard released January 18, 2018

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    CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.


    The City of St. John’s released a What we Heard document on January 18, 2018, following a public engagement process which took place between May and June 2017, and was designed to help inform the next 10 year Affordable Housing Strategy.

    The City’s first Affordable Housing Business Plan (AHBP), Creating Opportunities, Housing Our Community, was a 4 year plan which concluded in 2017.

    A number of themes emerged throughout the City’s engagement process, including:

    • Demographic realities

    • Housing needs

    • The importance of accessibility

    • Energy efficiency as a function of affordability

    • Transportation costs

    • Partnerships

    The information obtained through the consultation process will be used to help inform the new 10 Year Affordable Housing Strategy. The strategy is being developed in consultation the Affordable Housing Working Group. It will presented to Council and shared with the public for feedback before being officially adopted.

Page last updated: 21 Feb 2024, 03:52 PM